Bethesda Today gives Josh Starr several quotes while downplaying MCEA, MCCPTA and petitions with 100s of signatures

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the IB passing rate is not the same thing as a graduation rate

The graduation rate for IB is important as that’s the point of it.

You mean whether the kids earned the IB diploma? Earned a high school diploma? Passed their IB exams?

IB diploma. Anyone can take IB classes so it's not surprising you get a range of pass rates and it depends on the quality of the teacher. Many IB and AP teachers don't use textbooks, so if students don't self-study, they may not do well. For us, only history teachers use textbooks and structured teaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the IB passing rate is not the same thing as a graduation rate

The graduation rate for IB is important as that’s the point of it.

You mean whether the kids earned the IB diploma? Earned a high school diploma? Passed their IB exams?

IB diploma. Anyone can take IB classes so it's not surprising you get a range of pass rates and it depends on the quality of the teacher. Many IB and AP teachers don't use textbooks, so if students don't self-study, they may not do well. For us, only history teachers use textbooks and structured teaching.

Where can we find data on IB diploma rates?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:They tried putting high profile programs in low income schools. How are those IB programs going at Watkins Mill and Kennedy?

I thought the Watkins Mill IB program was considered pretty successful? I know the one at Kennedy is not good and is generally avoided but that doesn't make all of them bad

Not sure I'd consider Watkins Mill successful.... https://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DHXL5Z54F2FC/$file/MCPS%20IB%20Program%20Statistics.pdf

And yes, it's still a new program. But MCPS also hasn't done any analysis to determine what is working and what isn't.

Doesn't look that bad to me given nearly all the students receive farms

That's fair, but if you're a region 5 parent with a high achieving child, are you sending them to an IB program where only 17% of students are passing the IB math exam?

Only 40% of MCPS seniors graduate proficient in math. This is the school system we all send our kids to. Those with education/resources see when our kids are failing and help our kids either ourselves or hire tutors.

Wrong

That is what the MD school report card says. You can say it's wrong all you want, doesn't change the reality.

You might want the MD school report again.
Slowly this time

Feel free to cite the "correct" number and where you got it from. Mine comes directly from the district wide report card for MCPS in the second to last table https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/ReportCards/ReportCardSchool/1/E/1/15/XXXX/2025

Let me help you out.
Do you know which math assessment (MCAP) some kids take in HS? Which kids take that class in HS? Are they graduating seniors, as claimed ?

The data in the report card is for graduating seniors. If they weren't proficient when they took the MCAP, why do you assume they became proficient before they graduated?

The math assessment given in HS is algebra 1. The vast majority of MCPS students take it in 8th grade. The ones who take it in HS (usually 9th grade) and take the MCAP are the ones below level grade.
Clearly you are clueless and have no kids in MCPS.

You have to be in accelerated math for at least a few grades (4th and 5th, 6th and 7th, or both) to get to Algebra 1 in middle school. Kids who are on-level or below level take Algebra 1 in 9th. It's nuts to assert that the "vast majority" of MCPS kids are above grade level in math-- I'm sure that's true at some schools, including presumably yours, but at most schools only a minority of kids are advanced.

No, kids who are on-level take Algebra 1 in 8th grade in MCPS. That's the standard in MCPS.

Not true. You need a special acceleration recommendation from your Math 5 teacher to get into Accelerated 6+ and then 7+ to get to Algebra 1 in 8th, otherwise you are in math 6, 7, and 8 before Algebra 1 in 9th. See i.e. slide 22 here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vRV3TCzxgSsR9qAZm9IVV5ZUcN4-2AcPpoGp71F5zOxS5Vjmy97IVzSuuL8W3OxZQJ0oqBL89R5rDiw/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000&slide=id.g3a37884b2fd_0_219

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They tried putting high profile programs in low income schools. How are those IB programs going at Watkins Mill and Kennedy?

I thought the Watkins Mill IB program was considered pretty successful? I know the one at Kennedy is not good and is generally avoided but that doesn't make all of them bad

Not sure I'd consider Watkins Mill successful.... https://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DHXL5Z54F2FC/$file/MCPS%20IB%20Program%20Statistics.pdf

And yes, it's still a new program. But MCPS also hasn't done any analysis to determine what is working and what isn't.

Doesn't look that bad to me given nearly all the students receive farms

That's fair, but if you're a region 5 parent with a high achieving child, are you sending them to an IB program where only 17% of students are passing the IB math exam?

Only 40% of MCPS seniors graduate proficient in math. This is the school system we all send our kids to. Those with education/resources see when our kids are failing and help our kids either ourselves or hire tutors.

Wrong

That is what the MD school report card says. You can say it's wrong all you want, doesn't change the reality.

You might want the MD school report again.
Slowly this time

Feel free to cite the "correct" number and where you got it from. Mine comes directly from the district wide report card for MCPS in the second to last table https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/ReportCards/ReportCardSchool/1/E/1/15/XXXX/2025

Let me help you out.
Do you know which math assessment (MCAP) some kids take in HS? Which kids take that class in HS? Are they graduating seniors, as claimed ?

The data in the report card is for graduating seniors. If they weren't proficient when they took the MCAP, why do you assume they became proficient before they graduated?

The math assessment given in HS is algebra 1. The vast majority of MCPS students take it in 8th grade. The ones who take it in HS (usually 9th grade) and take the MCAP are the ones below level grade.
Clearly you are clueless and have no kids in MCPS.

You have to be in accelerated math for at least a few grades (4th and 5th, 6th and 7th, or both) to get to Algebra 1 in middle school. Kids who are on-level or below level take Algebra 1 in 9th. It's nuts to assert that the "vast majority" of MCPS kids are above grade level in math-- I'm sure that's true at some schools, including presumably yours, but at most schools only a minority of kids are advanced.

No, kids who are on-level take Algebra 1 in 8th grade in MCPS. That's the standard in MCPS.

Not true. You need a special acceleration recommendation from your Math 5 teacher to get into Accelerated 6+ and then 7+ to get to Algebra 1 in 8th, otherwise you are in math 6, 7, and 8 before Algebra 1 in 9th. See i.e. slide 22 here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vRV3TCzxgSsR9qAZm9IVV5ZUcN4-2AcPpoGp71F5zOxS5Vjmy97IVzSuuL8W3OxZQJ0oqBL89R5rDiw/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000&slide=id.g3a37884b2fd_0_219

See also the presentation here, slides 19-24. Algebra 1 in middle school is considered accelerated/gifted programming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the IB passing rate is not the same thing as a graduation rate

The graduation rate for IB is important as that’s the point of it.

Yes. The percentage of kids who actually get the IB diploma in the regionals is concerning and nowhere near comparable to the rate at which RMIB kids achieve the diploma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the IB passing rate is not the same thing as a graduation rate

The graduation rate for IB is important as that’s the point of it.

Yes. The percentage of kids who actually get the IB diploma in the regionals is concerning and nowhere near comparable to the rate at which RMIB kids achieve the diploma.

Where is this data?